Standing Committees

NRB standing committees are established to advance the overall mission of NRB and to serve the unique interests of specific constituencies within the NRB family. Among the ways standing committees render valuable and helpful assistance to the NRB is by:

Developing educational and training opportunities made available through NRB Conventions and other venues.
Identifying and developing specific member benefits that will strengthen our members’ ability to fulfill their ministry purpose.
Evaluating industry developments, trends, and technologies that may impact our members’ ability to fulfill their mission.
Providing relevant news and information for inclusion in NRB communication devices to keep our members informed on important matters.

Get Involved

We welcome you to get involved in an NRB Committee, within your area of expertise, whether it be Radio, Television, Film, Digital Media, Church Media, International, or Intercollegiate. Our Communities are composed of Committees along with open Advisory Councils, in which all interested parties are encouraged to take part.

As you participate in an NRB Advisory Council, you’ll provide action-oriented input on:

NRB Convention educational sessions
Your industry’s reception at the NRB Convention
NRB print and electronic communications
NRB Media Awards categories and criteria
NRB research initiatives
NRB membership benefits

Plus, you and your organization will benefit by:

Interacting with gifted people in your industry
Networking with a wide cross-section within Christian media
Developing new leadership skills through growth opportunities
The opportunity to give input on how NRB can serve your industry

If you’re interested in learning more, email membership@nrb.org or click here to contact us.

Current Standing Committee Members

Digital Media Committee

Chairman
Yvonne Carlson, Design Thinkers, LLC

Members
Jeffrey Anderson, Far East Broadcasting Company
Diego Hernandez, Salem Web Network
Josh Kashorek, Five Q
Rob Kirkpatrick, Focus on the Family
Dave Raley, Masterworks
Sam Rinearson, Bott Radio Network
Andy Walker, Infinity Concepts, LLC
Ron Weber, Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc.
Doug Weiss, Giving Company
Bryan VanHaitsma, Revive Our Hearts

Film Committee

Chairman
Robert Baehr, Movieguide®
In his role at Movieguide® Robert’s achievements to date include: releasing a top 50 iPhone app; building the website to be a top faith and family destination and the number one in its market; taking the radio program from under a million to over 21 million monthly listeners; and serving as executive producer for the nationally broadcast Movieguide® Awards. As senior partner for Worth Awareness Marketing he does regular film consultations with top studios and film production companies such as Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and the Weinstein Company. He previously worked for Motive Marketing (The Passion of the Christ and Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) as a liaison to the religious community, and with Disney National Promotions Group marketing Pirates of the Caribbean and Enchanted.

Members
Ted Baehr, Movieguide
Evy Carrol, Movieguide
Jeremy Carrol, Movieguide
Jared Geesey, International Christian Visual Media
Paul Sirmons

Intercollegiate Committee

Chairman
Shur Gopal Ph.D., North Greenville University

Shur Gopal has been teaching media technologies, film and video production at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina for over 15 years where he developed the video and film program of the Mass Communication department (almost from the ground up.) Shur brings with him over three decades of in-the-field media experience. As a Principal Consultant, Shur has launched five satellite television stations, from concept to launch – four in India and one in Malaysia. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in Communication Technology during 1988-89. Shur is a strong believer of networking and building contacts.

Members
Kornel Gerstner, Liberty University
Christy Jung, Hannibal LaGrange University
Sharyn Robertson, Bob Jones University
Jeff Young, Louisiana College
Christopher Zydowicz, Bob Jones University

International Committee

Chairman

Dave Young, Blount Communications Group

As Vice President of Blount Communications Group, Dave Young oversees 6 stations in 5 New England states. He leads a team of dedicated Christian broadcasters reaching one of the most spiritually challenging regions in our nation. He has led several radio-focused mission teams to four different continents.

Members
Bonnie Sala, Guidelines International Ministries
Darrel Templeton, MegaVoice
Ashvin Dhyriam, Good News Television
Arnold Enns, COICOM
Stan Jeter, ComunicadoresUSA
Roger Lonnquist, Your Network of Praise
Storly Michel, Radio 4VEH, The Evangelistic Voice of Haiti
Wayne Pederson, FEBC
Chuck Pollak, Sharing International
Tim Whitehead, Galcom International

Music License Committee

Co-Chairman
Bill Blount, Blount Communications Group

Bill Blount is President of Blount Communications Group, a Christian radio network of seven stations located throughout New England, which he and his wife, Deborah, founded more than 39 years ago. He previously served as Chairman of the NRB Board. In addition, he has served as Chairman of the International, Membership, Ethics, Nominating, Awards, Public Policy, and Resolutions Committees, as well as a member of the NRB Music Licensing Committee. He has traveled extensively, partnering with international ministries such as TWR, HCJB, FEBC, The Bible League, Compassion International, and Gospel for Asia. For recreation, Bill enjoys motorcycles, snowmobiles, scuba diving, and hunting. He and Deborah live by a lake in a small New Hampshire town.

Co-Chairman
Russ Hauth, Salem Media Group

Mr. Hauth has served as a Senior Vice President with Salem Media Group since 1998. Prior to 1998, Mr. Hauth was principle of Hauth Associates, a consulting firm serving radio broadcasters. From 1987 to 2017, Mr. Hauth served as Executive Director of the National Religious Broadcasters’ Music License Committee (NRBMLC), which he presently co-chairs with Bill Blount. Several milestones occurred during Mr. Hauth’s Committee tenure: NRBMLC was the first radio committee to successfully litigate an ASCAP Rate Court proceeding; subsequent to this, both ASCAP and BMI agreed to more reasonable licenses for Christian Talk-formatted stations; those landmark agreements opened the door to achieve numerous favorable commercial and noncommercial broadcast/streaming PRO agreements; engagement in several NRBMLC and NRBNMLC royalty proceedings with SoundExchange before the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB).

Radio Committee

Chairman
Sharon Geiger, KCBI-FM

Sharon Geiger is the Assistant General Manager/Outreach Director at FM, KCBI FM, a ministry of First Dallas Media. She oversees KCBI’s On-Demand All Teaching Channel, produced programming and assists with major donor relationships. Sharon seeks to help KCBI fulfill its mission to be a discipleship force in Dallas-Fort Worth by mobilizing listeners to put their faith into action, becoming the hands of feet of Jesus in the community. Sharon joined the KCBI staff in 1984. During her long history with KCBI, she has also served as Program Director and News Director. Sharon is an award-winning broadcast journalist and has traveled on assignment to many areas of the U.S. and around the world. She also has had the opportunity to work with MEDIAlliance and Sharing International, training Christian broadcasters in Southeastern Nigeria and Eastern Europe. Sharon and her husband, Don, live in East Dallas. They are grateful, proud parents and grandparents and are active in their church and community.

Members
Colleen Dick, WWIP-FM
Tracy Figley, Strong Tower Christian Media WEEC & WFCJ
Chuck Finney, Finney Media
Eben Fowler, Bott Radio Network
Bill Bumpas, Encouragement Media Group
Chris Kinsel, KCBI-FM
Ross McCampbell, WBCL-FM
Michael Shelley, NewLife Radio
John Summerville, TWR
Sandra Swann, WFAX-AM/FM

Television Committee